birfield doesnt want to go in its home?

[Skinny_Pedal]

im trying to wrap up my front axle. i was trying to put the inner axle and birf inside the housing. its going into a detroit. anyway for the life of me i cannot get the axle inside the detroit? i got so pissed i pulled the 3rd out to make sure the axle would go in, it does very nicely. i just cant get it in with the housing? is this a sign of a bent housing?

[WHITE_TRASH]

Im gonna take a guess that its the long side that wont go in isnt it?

[Skinny_Pedal]

short side and these arent the birfs that came out of the 83

[WHITE_TRASH]

Hmm short side usually goes in really easy.  A bent housing is a good possibility but its not the end of the world.  If you can feel the splines wanting to engage Id just tap them in lightly with a hammer.  Ill bet they start going in.

[Skinny_Pedal]

it just boggles me. i would look through the longside, and im positive i could see the shaft in the hole(in the 3rd) but pushing, twisting, and spinning they will not go in. thats why i pulled the 3rd to see if the splines would go in, and they went in golden. i guess ill try the tapping tomarrow. im done with it tonight.

[WHITE_TRASH]

Just for grins why not take the nuts off that hold the 3rd off and let it float a bit to seee if it'll engage?

[Skinny_Pedal]

doesnt sound like that bad of an idea. i hope the longside doesnt give me grief

[mr4x42u]

loosen the top nuts that hold on the steer arm..that always helps..

[derek]

spin the flange back and forth as you slide the birf in.
sometin\mes the splines dont  quite line up great.

derek

[synwars]

Ya I remember that happening with my buddies axle, same setup. We ended up finding that by slowly turning the yoke on the third and lubing the end helped it slide in.

[brainlessfool]

BFH! 

[Skinny_Pedal]

i did try spinning the yoke and had it very well lubed. ill loosen the top arm and the 3rd and get that biotch in.

[TrackVino]

Try standing on one leg while you spin twice and tap you head and belly...... Oh, sorry, thats a cure for something else 

I had a simular problem, and yup, it was a bent housing, but that was on the long side. Hope it works for you.

[germ]

I know it sound obvious, and it seems like you've done these before, but are you sure the small flat spot is lined up correctly? (straight up)Could be simple alignment.

Good luck

Erik 

[synwars]

Good point. I remember also rocking the birfield up and down along the flat spots in order to squeeze it in the housing...